Find Out How Happy You Are With A Happiness Test

Do you find that you're more of a pessimist than an optimist? Or maybe you're too hard on yourself. Is there a way to measure more closely how truly happy a person can be?

Of course, you can always take a happiness quiz on social media - there are thousands of them - but perhaps you were hoping instead to take a quiz that had a bit more authority.

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The Psychology Today Happiness Test

Psychology Today has their form of happiness testing, with a test that consists of both hypothetical scenarios and self-assessment questions. After choosing to what extent you agree with the self-assessment questions, and after choosing which reaction you believe you would have to each hypothetical scenario, the test then spits out a report that tells you whether you're more optimistic or pessimistic.

In addition to your report, you will also see a graph that pictorially represents your answers so that you can see on which end of the spectrum you more closely lie. For an additional $4.95, you can purchase the "full results," which are more in-depth.

Oprah's Happiness Test

Did you know that Oprah has several happiness tests on her website? About the first, and in true Oprah fashion, you can take the test and then also refer to the ten tips she provides as ways to instantly take steps to increase your happiness.

The first test is called the "Be Happy Index" (BHI), and it is a test that was famously explored in a documentary on the BBC: How to Be Happy. The test was initially used during an eight-week program created by Dr. Robert Holden entitled "Be Happy," and Oprah notes that scientists have referred to the program as an effective way to change both the way you feel and the way your brain works.

If you're interested in learning more about Dr. Holden, including his upcoming public appearances, and if you would prefer to take the test on his website, you can check it out here.

The next test on Oprah's website is the "Are You Happy" quiz. There are different questions on this quiz, and it is designed to help you realize whether you may be unhappy and have simply learned to live with it. If you discover through this quiz that this does, in fact, describe you, then you can start taking steps to improve your life and make yourself a happier person.

The Oxford Happiness Test

The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire was initially published back in 2002 in the Journal of Personality and Individual Differences. The test was created by research psychologists as a way to help people understand where they would fall on a scale of "not happy" to "too happy."

The test was published to The Guardian's website in November of 2014, and the authors recommend that, after taking the test and for the best results, you take the test again at a later date, preferably after trying some of the exercises recommended to increase your happiness level. The test is less than 30 questions long, and it must be read carefully, as some questions are specifically worded to be negative, and others positive.

You are to go with your gut and choose the first answer that you feel most closely matches you. If for some reason, you find a question difficult to answer, then you are to give the answer that you feel is true for you a majority of the time.

The Buzzfeed Happiness Test

Of course, there would be a happiness test on Buzzfeed! If you want to take a more lighthearted happiness quiz, rather than one of those serious ones created by actual doctors, then Buzzfeed is the place for you. In true Buzzfeed fashion, you can, to start things off, select the mood that most closely matches you. Are you more of a Disney film or Garden State? Where do you see yourself in five years? What would make you the happiest at your job right now?

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Your results can range from "Very Happy" (so happy that you wrote that song by Pharrell) to "Doing OK-ish," which is akin to being Freddie Prinze Jr.'s character in the film She's All That, to "Not Very Happy," which they do not quantify with a cutesie pop culture reference but instead describe you as having more "realistic expectations."

The Blogthings Happiness Test

The "How Happy are You?" quiz over at Blogthings is pretty simple: simply hover over and click the statements you agree with, and your result will pop up after you click submit. Said result consists of a percentage of how happy you are (i.e., "You are 56% happy"), and an accompanying statement about such a result.

For instance, if you receive a 56 percent happy score, you are considered a happy person who experiences down moments sometimes. You tend to squeeze the most that you can out of life, though there's always more happiness to be gained.

Ways To Improve Your Happiness

Okay, so maybe you've taken a happiness quiz or several, and you don't like the suggestions that are offered to you after the fact (if any) on how you can improve your life. What, then, are some other ways in which you can boost your morale and improve your mood more permanently?

Diet And Exercise

The two best suggestions to improve your mood are as old as time itself: eat right and exercise. When you're taking care of yourself, you are instantly bettering your mood and your body at the same time. Exercise releases hormones that make you feel better, plus you can feel better knowing that you don't have to feel guilty if you stray away from your diet for a snack or two because, overall, you are doing all you can to improve.

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Plus, when you eat right and exercise, you are staving off infection and other ailments, like anxiety and depression that can be negative influences on your mood. The healthier you are, and the better you feel, the more prepared you are to take on the day and smash down anything that can potentially bring you down and leave you there.

Take More Risks

One of the fastest ways to feel down about yourself is to let yourself get stuck in a rut. It is recommended that you take daily risks to keep yourself on your toes and out of the proverbial muck. It can be something as small as striking up a conversation with someone you've never really talked to before, or as large as taking on a new hobby, like yoga or dancing. The important thing is to push yourself out of your comfort zone, for that's the only way we ever truly live.

Stop Taking Life So Seriously

This one is a problem for so many of us. We get so wrapped up in the humdrum of daily living, or in the challenges that each day presents, that we forget just to let go and laugh once in a while. While it's easier to laugh at things when we're kids and find everything funny, this is a personality trait that tends to disappear once we've reached adulthood.

As adults, we have to seek out things that will make us laugh. The comment sections on online forums tend to be great at making us chuckle, though those can also make us angry, so that may be a delicate balance to maintain. Instead, try something that involves stepping away from the computer, like going out to see a new comedy, or playing a board game that involves something funny, like Balderdash, Cards Against Humanity or, Cards' tamer counterpart, Apples to Apples.

Light Some Candles and Play Some Music

It's amazing how our other senses can overpower our thoughts in both negative and positive ways. If you find that the things you are doing for your inner self-do do not seem to be working, try focusing instead on your external environment. A scented candle of your liking (whether it's floral, fresh linens, or fruits) can be pleasant enough to change your mood, as can putting on some of your favorite tunes.

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Start The Day with an Appreciation For The Little Things

The way you wake up can often set the mood for the entire day. Have you ever had a rough morning with the kids and the rest of the day seems to consist of everything going wrong? Before you even get out of bed in the morning, instead of checking your phone and getting aggravated by emails or social media, take a deep breath and enjoy just looking out your window and greeting the new day. You can even recite a daily mantra to yourself, such as: "Today, I choose to be happy," or whatever you find works for you.

Are you struggling with being unhappy all the time? If so, feel free to reach out to one of our licensed counselors, who can lend you an ear, as well as advice and support, that can help you on your way to your next steps to a happier you.

The information on this page is not intended to be a substitution for diagnosis, treatment, or informed professional advice. You should not take any action or avoid taking any action without consulting with a qualified mental health professional. For more information, please read our terms of use.

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